Certified Mail vs. regular mail

Compare the options

• What Certified Mail costs with each option
• Registered Mail vs. Certified Mail
• What Certified Mail is and how it works
• What First-Class Mail includes

Choose regular mail when

Regular First-Class Mail fits personal letters, routine correspondence, and documents where the recipient does not require a tracking number or proof of acceptance. It also costs less because the Certified Mail and Return Receipt fees are absent.

Choose Certified Mail when

For a permitted, eligible letter, Certified Mail through IRIS can fit when you want a tracking number and available provider-reported events and the PDF contains no more than six single-sided or 12 double-sided pages. If you need a postmarked USPS acceptance receipt or a Return Receipt artifact, use a channel that actually provides it. Check the recipient's instructions, any contract, or a qualified professional's advice before choosing.

Decide whether to add a Return Receipt

USPS Certified Mail and Return Receipt answer different questions: the first offers a mailing receipt and access to tracking; the optional second can supply delivery-signature information. IRIS lets you select the electronic add-on but currently shows only available provider-reported events, not the Return Receipt artifact. Neither option promises successful delivery, a signature, or recipient acceptance.

Review the document before paying for proof

A stronger postal record cannot repair an incomplete document. Confirm the final PDF, attachments, signatures, deadline, and destination before choosing the service. Without an applicable written agreement with IRIS, use another approved route for government identifiers, highly sensitive medical records, or payment-card credentials. Keep a separate copy of what you sent and any actual receipt you obtain.